The Hero Fund was honored to recognize the heroism of 69 individuals awarded the Carnegie Medal in 2025. Among the recipients were 63 Americans and six Canadians, who together represented 27 states and provinces. Fifteen awards were made posthumously to rescuers who were killed during, or as a result of, their heroic actions. Through the selfless and extraordinary actions of these men and women, we are provided hope anew that the best of ourselves remains present in our society and will not waiver in the face of difficult times.
The youngest 2025 recipient was 8-yearold Marlin Davenport, who was playing in a water fountain when the water became electrified. After alerting his dad and another adult, Marlin ultimately rescued one man who was immobilized in the electrified water. The oldest Carnegie Medal recipient was 73-year-old Ralph Henry Reese, who helped rescue novelist Salman Rushdie from assault at a talk in Chautauqua, New York. Rushdie has survived several assassination attempts since 1988, after a fatwa was issued in light of his fourth novel.
In continued service to the Hero Fund’s timeless commitment to support heroes and their families, $1,067,540 was provided by the Commission in 2025 to medal recipients and dependents in monetary grants, including initial award and other one-time support grants, monthly continuing benefits, scholarships, funeral and medical costs support, and the cost of medals.
At the Hero Fund’s December meeting, President Eric Zahren shared with commission members some thoughts on 2025.
The ongoing partnership with the University of Pittsburgh’s Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership department on the HERO (Hero-inspired Education and Research Outreach) project, which aims to make the Hero Fund’s 122 years of hero data available to researchers and others interested in the study of altruism and its societal relevance.
“The HERO project is a way forward toward a fuller, wider impact and a new level of modern relevance,” Zahren said. “We must fully utilize the vast records held by the Hero Fund and compiled through over 120 years of exploration of heroism, altruism, and the best of the human condition to understand, inform, and leverage what we have learned about ‘ourselves,’ at least us at our best.”
In addition, he remarked on the economic sustainability of the Fund.
“Given the financial strength of the Hero Fund, looking into 2026, I would like to see the Fund be as generous as possible while remaining good stewards of Mr. Carnegie’s gift,” he said referring to the $5 million initial gift from founder Andrew Carnegie to initiate and provide for the fund’s long-term operation.